After Hillary Clinton lost yet another primary contest to Bernie Sanders in Oregon on Tuesday, Wednesday’s network morning shows began sounding the alarm that he could damage her chances in the general election and lamented that the socialist senator was “not going away.”
On NBC’s Today, correspondent Kristen Welker declared: “The Democrats are as divided as ever this morning....All of this complicating Clinton's efforts to try to focus on the fight against Donald Trump.” She noted Clinton “is trying to put Bernie Sanders away,” but worried that “the Vermont senator is refusing to go quietly....even though the Democratic nomination is likely mathematically out of reach.”
Turning up the pressure for Sanders to get out, Welker touted Democratic Party officials condemning his supporters protesting at the Nevada state convention: “...some Democrats are expressing concern about Clinton's ability to unify the party, after chaos broke out in Las Vegas over the weekend....State party chairwoman Roberta Lang telling Andrea Mitchell she’s receiving death threats.”
On ABC’s Good Morning America, correspondent Cecilia Vega warned:
This morning it's not just a battle with Clinton, Sanders is now locked in a bitter fight with the Democratic Party. All caught on video. Sanders supporters at Nevada’s state party convention last weekend, angry about rules that deem some delegates ineligible. Then came threats to the state party chairwoman, who says Sanders supporters listed her phone number online.
Following the report, co-host George Stephanopoulos wrung his hands over the division: “...who would have though this, but it seems that – it appears right now the Democrats are having a harder time getting together than the Republicans.” Correspondent Jon Karl agreed: “Yeah, it looks like the Democratic convention will be the angry one, the one with drama.”
Karl highlighted “fighting words” from Sanders and cautioned: “Democrats all assume everybody will get on board because Donald Trump is such a threat. But, George, this is really something to watch. I mean, Bernie Sanders is not going quietly.” Stephanopoulos added: “Not at all.”
On CBS This Morning, correspondent Nancy Cordes announced: “...the party has been kind of treating Sanders with kid gloves lately, wary of alienating his millions of supporters. But those gloves have come off after an ugly incident in Nevada they say his campaign could have prevented. And they're worried there could be more to come.”
She further hyped: “In a blistering letter Monday, state party officials accused the Sanders campaign of ‘inciting disruption and, yes, violence,’ by ‘an irrational minority’....And the abuse didn't end there. Officials say Sanders supporters posted her cell phone and home address online. She's gotten hundreds of threatening messages.”
Wrapping up the report, Cordes noted: “The chair of the Democratic National Committee said last night Sanders is adding fuel to the fire when he could be putting the fire out. Very rare to hear her criticize one of her candidates.”
At the top of the 8 a.m. ET hour, co-host Norah O’Donnell cited liberal fears that Sanders could help Trump: “A Washington Post op-ed says Sanders, quote, ‘is now running against the Democratic Party. And that's excellent news for one Donald J. Trump.’”
In the segment that followed, former Face the Nation moderator Bob Schieffer speculated on Sanders running as an independent: “I am beginning to wonder, is he going to mount a third-party run if he doesn't get the nomination?...is there going to be a movement among his people to say, ‘Hey, we're not giving up, and we're going to find another way to do this.’”
He complained: “You know, I mean, he's not a Democrat. You know, this is the first time he's ever sought office as a Democrat.”
Here is a full transcript of Welker’s May 18 report:
7:02 AM ET
MATT LAUER: Let's start on this Wednesday, though, with the presidential race. Bernie Sanders not going anywhere after he topped Hillary Clinton in the Oregon primary. While Clinton is claiming victory in Kentucky, in one of the tightest races of this campaign season so far. As for the delegate count, Clinton remains on track to secure the Democratic nomination by early next month.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: No big surprise in the only Republican contest of the night, Donald Trump won Oregon, as he marches toward the Republican nomination.LAUER: Another major headline in the Democratic race this morning, new turmoil within the party in the wake of an unruly Democratic state convention in Nevada. We have it all covered, beginning with NBC's Kristen Welker. She's at Hillary Clinton's campaign headquarters in Brooklyn again today. Kristen, good morning to you.
KRISTEN WELKER: Matt, good morning to you. The Democrats are as divided as ever this morning. Secretary Clinton had that narrow win in Kentucky. Senator Sanders claiming victory in Oregon, but dangling the possibility of contesting those Kentucky results. All of this complicating Clinton's efforts to try to focus on the fight against Donald Trump.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Sanders, Clinton Split Primary Wins; Party Turmoil as Sanders Wins Oregon, Vows to March On]
Hillary Clinton is trying to put Bernie Sanders away and turn her full attention to Donald Trump, splitting two primaries overnight. The apparent winner in Kentucky, but losing in Oregon. On Twitter, her campaign thanked voters in the Bluegrass State, saying, “We're always stronger united.”
CROWD: Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!
WELKER: But the Vermont senator is refusing to go quietly.
BERNIE SANDERS: We are in until the last ballot is cast.
WELKER: Campaigning in California late Tuesday, Sanders is forging ahead, even though the Democratic nomination is likely mathematically out of reach. But now, some Democrats are expressing concern about Clinton's ability to unify the party, after chaos broke out in Las Vegas over the weekend.
CROWD: Recount! Recount!
WELKER: Sanders supporters lashing out during Nevada's state convention.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN [SANDERS SUPPORTER]: What kind of democracy is this?!
WELKER: Their anger aimed at Democratic Party leadership.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN B [NEVADA DEMOCRATIC PARTY]: Please take your seats.
WELKER: Claiming the convention rules were unfair.
ROBERTA LANGE [NEVADA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR]: I gotten threats to my family, to my grandson, to my husband.
WELKER: State party chairwoman Roberta Lang telling Andrea Mitchell she’s receiving death threats.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN C: I just wanted to let you know that I think people like you should be hung in public execution.
WELKER: In a statement, Sanders said he condemns any and all forms of violence, but defiantly slammed the party, claiming his supporters are being treated unfairly. Firing back, party leaders are calling his campaign dishonest, and saying he has “failed to adequately denounce the threats of violence.” Overnight, Sanders himself took on the entire Democratic Party process.
SANDERS: I say to the leadership of the Democratic Party, open the doors! Let the people in!
WELKER: With the party's convention set for July, the Clinton campaign is expressing confidence that, ultimately, Democrats will unify. Meanwhile, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton both releasing their personal financial disclosure forms. The headlines there, Trump saying that he made more than $550 million last year. Secretary Clinton saying that she netted about $1.4 million in paid speaking fees. The Clinton campaign using this moment to hammer Trump for failing to release his tax returns. Something he says he'll do once an audit is completed. Matt, Savannah?
LAUER: Alright, Kristen Welker. Kristen, thanks very much.
